Glassware handling apparatus



April 19, 1932. A, N, RA ER 1,854,453

GLASSWARE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. .22, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ITS-E- April .19, 1932. A, N, CRA ER 1,854,453

GLASSWARE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 TIE-5* V ITS-7- .TTE-B- April 19, 1932. A. N. CRAMER GLASSWARE HANDL ING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 xw W QEH

Patented Apr. 19, 1932 ALBERT N. CBAMER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR 'IO OWENS-ILLINOIS GLASS COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, 0310, A GORPOBATZOII OF OHIO GLASSWARE HANDLING APPARATUS Application filed October 22, 1928. Serial No. 314,093.

The. present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for handling glassware such as bottles and ars. More particularly the invention relates to means for setting such articles upright and in uniform spaced relation upon a conveyoror the like.

In the production of bottles and similar articles of glassware upon automatic forming machines, such articles are discharged at a predetermined station and are guided, neck first, down a chute or trough, at the lower end of which the articles are placed upon suitable conveying means for delivery to the annealing leer. Various types of apifl paratus have been employed to place the articles in upright position upon the hot belts or carrying-in conveyors arranged between the forming machine and annealing leer. However, these mechanisms have been open to numerous objections, among which are their inability to handle high speed production of plural mold machines with a reasonable degree of eihciency, and the impossibility of adjusting the mechanisms, without difficulty, to meet the demands of varying operating conditions.

An object of the present invention is to provide novel means to set articles upright in uniform spaced relation upon a conveyor 1;. or other support and so construct the settingup means that it will handle high speed production of the modern plural mold machine without difliculty, yet may be adjusted with ease to meet the requirements of low speed 1-1;, production. 7

Another object is to provide means to prevent sagging or other distortion of the bottoms of ware such as bottles, during movement of the latter from the discharge chute or trough of the forming machine to the conveyor or other means which carries the ware to the annealing leer. To this end this particular feature of the invention comprises providing a series of bottom forming plates 4:. which support the bottoms of the articles of glassware a sufficient length or" time to allow them to cool and become set in the shape and position originally intended. Thus, the bot toms are held against sagging and assuming a position in a plane with or perhaps below the lower ends of the side walls of the article. In this manner breakage of the containers under sealing pressure or even their own weight is minimized.

Ano-therobject is to provide a rotary type of setting-up device comprising a series of pockets to receive the articles to be set up and so construct the pockets that they may be readily adjusted to accommodate articles of various lengths.

It is likewise an object to interpose between the discharge chute or chutes of the forming machine and the setting-up device, novel means to momentarily support the articles one at a time, and then at predetermined time intervals release the articles for deposit in the pockets of the setting-up device, said means being actuated by rotation of the pockets and in timed relation to movement of said pockets.

Other objects will be apparent hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line IIII of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional elevation illustrating the means for delivering articles to the pockets or holders of the setting-up device.

Fig. 4: is a side elevation with parts in section, of the means for delivering articles from the forming machine to the setting-up device. '7 A Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the hopper from which the articles move by gravity to the pockets of the setting-up device.

Figs. 6 to inclusive are sectional elevations illustrating the successive positions assumed by a single pocket or holder while moving an article from a horizontal position within the pocket to a vertical position upon an adjacent support such as a conveyor. Fig. 6 shows the pocket in position to receive an article. Figs. 7 and 8 show the pocket in two succeeding positions. Fig. 9 shows an article supported'upon a table after having been moved out of the pocket. Fig. 10 shows the article supported upon a conveyor after having been removed from the pocket and table.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified form of pocket showing means for adjusting the pockets to accommodate articles of varying heights.

Fig. 12 is a detail end elevation of one of the pockets shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified form in which articles move thru the op n ends of a discharge chute directly into the pockets of the rotary setting-up device.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation with parts in section, showing the form illustrated in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary plan view of a bottom forming device operating in conjunction with the rotary setting-up device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view illustrating the structure of one of the bottom forming plates shown in plan in Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 16 showing the bottom forming plate raised ust prior to movement of an article laterally away from said plate to the conveyor 21 in Fig. 15, and also showing the means for raising said plate.

Briefly, the invention comprises an annular series of setting-up devices rotating continuously in a closed path and operating, while transferring articles from the discharge station of a forming machine to a conveyor, or other ware handling mechanism, to set the articles upright in uniform spaced relation. Thus there is provided means for performing the two-fold function of properly positioning articles, such as bottles and jars, for transportation to an annealing leer, and for spacing the articles apart to prevent scratching or marring their surfaces due to contact with each other. This setting-up and spacing mechanism is interposed between the inclined discharge troughs 20 or chutes positioned at the discharge station-of a forming machine, and a ware handling de ice, such as an endless conveyor 21. Articles of glassware such as bottles B are discharged from the finishing mold 22 of the forming machine and are placed in the setting-up device in a cumbent position, said device then carrying the articles to the conveyor 21 and positioning them upright on a transfer table in spaced relation just prior to placing them upon said conveyor. he articles may be carried by the conveyor 21 to any predetermined point or apparatus, such for example as a leer feeder (not shown) which transfers the articles to the interior of an annealing leer (not shown).

The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a stationary base or standard 23 (Fig. 2) formed with an upwardly opening pocket 24 in which the lower end of a vertical pillar 25 or column is positioned.

This pillar 25 rises a short distance above the standard 23 and supports a cam table 26 to be described hereinafter.

A circular table 27 is arranged in a hori- Zontal plane below the cam table 26 and is formed with a central opening thru which said pillar 25 extends. A tubular shaft 28 projects downwardly from said table 27, encircles a portion of the stationary pillar 25, and carries at its lower end a worm gear 29 running in mesh with a worm 30. The worm and gear are enclosed in a housing 31 formed at the upper end of the base 23 and including a removable cap or closure plate 32 which allows ready access to the interior of the gear housing. This table 27 is continuously rotated in a counter-clockwise direction by a motor M operating thru a speed reduction gear 33, shaft 34, sprocket chain 35, and worm 30 to rotate the worm gear 29. The endless belt or conveyor 21 receives its power from the motor M thru the shaft 36 which is driven by the shaft 34 thru gears 37 and in turn drives the pulley 38 over which one end of said conveyor is trained. Thus the relative speeds of the rotating table 27 and the conveyor 21 are constant. An increase in the speed of either the table 27 or conveyor 21 causes a proportionate increase in the speed of the other.

The table 27 supports an annular series of radially extending upwardly inclined arms 40 (Figs. 1 and 2) to the outer ends of which pockets or article holders 41 are pivoted for vertical swinging movement radially with re- 3 spect to the table 27. Each arm 40 is removably held in .a slideway 42 by means of a spring pressed detent 43. This construction permits ready removal or replacement of the arms 40 together with the article holders 41 so that the number of holders being used may be changed to meet any particular operating conditions.

Each article holder 41 or pocket comprises a frame substantially V-shaped in cross-section and including a lug 45 extending laterally from one end and pivoted to a horizontal hinge pin 46 at the outer end of the arm 40. This article holder 41 is adapted to swing at regular intervals thru an arc of substantially 90 so that in one position articles such as bottles may be placed on their sides in said holders. hen the holders assume the other position a finger 47 on one of the walls rests upon the upper margin of an extension 48, the latter eXtending horizontally and radially of the table from the corresponding arm 40. This construction prevents movement of the pockets outwardly beyond a true vertical position so that bottles B or similar articles will not be moved out of the pockets prematurely. The extension 48 projects beyond the corresponding holder 41 and as will be apparent hereinafter operates to move articles along a portion of the path lying between scratch nor otherwise mar articles beingv pushed thereby or be affected by the intense heat in the articles being pushed. A bottom plate is fixed to the outer end of each holder 41 to support articles during a portion of their movement between the chutes 20 and the conveyor 21.

Each holder 41 normally occupies a horizontal position and is yieldingly held in such position by a coil spring 51 (Fig. 1) encircling the corresponding hinge pin 46. This coil spring also insures contact between a cam roll 52 carried by each holder frame and a stationary continuous cam 53 which is secured to the aforementioned stationary cam table 26. v

The cam 53 (Fig. 1) is formed with a raised and radially outwardly offset portion 54 extending from a point adjacent the inclined chute 20 to a point just beyond the conveyor 21. The remaining length of the cam 53 is arranged in a horizontal plane below the offset portion 54 and supports the holders in horizontal positions so that when said holders arrive at the station A (Fig. 1) they are already in position to receive articles dropped 1. by gravity from a feeder F or hopper interposed between the chutes 20 and'holders 41. The offset portion 54 of the cam 53 rocks the pockets about their pivots so that as they move from the station A toward the conveyor 21 in a counter-clockwise direction they swing to an upright position to deliver articles therein to the conveyor. The coil springs 51 operate to yieldingly hold the pockets or article holders 41 in positions predetermined by the contour of the continuous cam 53.

The feeder F or hopper which also functions as a timing device is operated by rotation of the table 27 and in timed relation with the arrival of the article holders at the article receiving station A. In the present disclosure provision is made to handle ware produced upon a double mold machine, i. e., a machine in which each mold has two cavities and two bottles or other articles are discharged each time a mold group arrives at the discharge station.

The feeder F or hopper consists of a rectangular open frame extending laterally from the upper end of a supporting standard to the end walls of the frame 60. The other plate 63 of each pocket is secured at its upper. margin to a rock shaft 66 extending parallel with the hinge rod 64 and projecting a short distance beyond one wall of the frame 60.

The plates 63 carried by the rock shafts 66- form swinging valves which may be opened at regular intervals to permit articles in the pocket of the hopper or feeder to move downward by gravity into article holders '41.

The, extended portions of the rock shafts 66 (Figs. 3 and 4) carry a'pair ofdepending rock arms 67 whose lower ends are connected together by a bar 68. A coil spring 69-is secured to one end of the bar 68 and to the frame 60 as shown in Fig. 3 to normally yieldingly hold the swinging bottom plates 63 in position to support articlessuch'as bottles in a cumbent position in the Epockets which are in part formed by saidswinging plates 63*. An arm 70 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) is secured to and adjustable lengthwise of-the bar 68 and carries a cam roll 71 whichis periodically engaged by a rotary cam 72, the latter fixed to a shaft 73 journaled in a bear-. ing 74 at the upper end of the standard'61. A bevel gear 75 is fixed to the shaft 73 and runs in mesh with a gear 76 mounted at the upper end of a vertical shaft 77 which is journaled in vertically spaced bearings 78, one of which is carried by the cam table 26 and the other by the standard 61. A pinion 79 is secured to the lower end of the vertical shaft 77 and runs in mesh with a driving gear 80 arranged between the camtable 26 and the holder supporting cam 27 and preferably secured to the latter for continuous rotation therewith. Thus rotary motion is constantly imparted to the cam 72 (Figs. 3 and 4) whereby the rock arm 67 is actuatedat regular intervals to open the bottoms of the pockets 62 in unison. Opening of the pockets is so timed that a pair of article holders 41 are, positioned directly beneath the feeder F at the time the articles are released for delivery to said holders. I Q 1 Each pocket 62 (Figs l and 4) of the feeder F is provided with a sectional bumper block 81 formed of fibre or some other suitable material. These blocks are removably secured to the end walls opposite the entrance openings 82 sothat articles delivered to said pockets by chutes 20 will have their advancing movement stoppedzin a position from which they may be delivered by gravity into the article holders 41. ,Pref erably the block 81 is of such length that the distance between the end which contacts with bottles or like articles, and the bottom plate 50 of a holder positionedbelow the feeder, corresponds substantially to. that of the ar ticles being handled. Thus, when theswinging bottom plate 63 of a holder is actuated to release an article, the latter drops directly into the proper holder and in substantially the position it is to occupy thruout the period I striking'said bottom plates 50. This objecis entirely overcome by providing the adjustable bumper block 8-1 which predetermines the initial position of the articles in the pockets and the extent of drop to which thearticles are subjected as the holders are inverted.

arcuate table 85' (Figs. 1, 8 and 9) extends in a horizontal plane about that portion of the annular series of article holders l lyingbetween the chutes and the conveyor 21- This table 85 or plate supports the articles such as bottlesB in upright positions after the have beenmoved radially outward beyond t 'ebottom plates of said holders. The table 85 is supported upon the upper end; of asuitable standard 86. A cam 87 (Fi 1, 8 and 9') engages articles in the hol e'rs 41 after the latter have assumed an upright position and by a wiping action removes" the articles from the bottom plates substantially the manner shown in Fig; 1. Movement of the article's after having been pushed off of the bottom plates 50 is obtained y engagement ofthe extensions 48 or pusher arms with the articles. Due to continuous rotatio'n of the series of setting-up devices and said extensions 48' -the articles are carried to the conveyor 21 or hot belt which is operating'at a speed suflicient toquickly carry the 1 articles to a point beyond the outer ends of said pusher arms48.

An adjustable guardrail 88 (Figs. 1 and 9) is supported upon the upper side of the arcuate table 85 to prevent outward movement of articles beyond the influence of the arms 48. This guard rail- 88 is yieldingly supported on thetable by means including a pair of bracket s 89 adjust-ably connected to the table by bolts'9O or the like fasteners. Each bracket- (Figs. 1 and 9) includes a vertical portion formed with a transverse opening 91 thru which arod 92 projects, one end of said rod being pivoted to a lug 93 near one end of said guard rail and held against separation from the bracket by a nut 94. A coil spring 95 encircles each rod 92 between a supporting bracket 89 and the lug 93' and yieldingly holds the guard railin its innermost position relative to the article holders 41, said innermost position being predetermined by adj ustment of the brackets 89 and setting of the adjusting nuts 94.

In operation, articles such as bottles are deposited in the upper ends of the chutes or troughs 20 at regular time intervals by opening of the finishing molds 22 and moved by gravity to positions shown in Fig. 4 where they remain for a short length of time predetermined by the speed of rotation of the cam 72 (Fig. Rotation of this cam 72 is timed with movement of the article holders 41 so that when a pair of article holders have almost reached a position directly beneath the pockets 62 the cam 72 operates to swing the rock arms 67 and thereby actuate the swinging bottom plates 63- so that the two articles in said pockets may be dropped into said pair of article holders simultaneously. These two holders move constantly in a closed path and just after receiving the two bottles begin to turn about the axes of the hinge pins 46 until said holders are positioned upright and their bottom plates 50 support said articles. As the holders approach the arcuate table 85 the sides of the bottles B come in contact with the cam 87 and are thereby moved radially outward until they are free from the supporting influence of the bottom plates 50 and rest upon said arcuate table 85. As previously stated, the pusher arms 48 which are individual to the article holders continue to move the bottles along the table 85 whereby they are transferred to the conveyor 21, the latter delivering the bottles to any predetermined point.

In another form of article holder (Figs. 11 and 12) the bumper plate 100 connected to the frame by bolts 101 extending thru slots 102 in said frame, said slots extending lengthwise of the frame so that the bumper plate may be adjusted leng hwise of the holder and permit the latter to accommodate bottles or jars of different lengths. This construction avoids the necessity for employing the feeder F or hopper (Fig. 1) in that the articles are delivered directly into the article holders 41 from the chutes 20, the lower or discharge ends of said chutes being positioned in proximity to and avery short distance above the path followed by the bottom plates 50 of the holders 41. In this form the timed relation between movement of the finishing molds and holders is regulated to insure delivery of the articles to the holders. By adjusting the bumper plates 100 lengthwise of the article holders 41 the distance between the bumper plates 100 and bottom plates 50 may be changed required by the particular type of work being handled. As stated previously, it is desirable when placing articles in the holders to so position them that they will not be subject to a drop of any great extent when the article holders assume upright positions. In other Words, when the articles are first placed in the holders they come to rest in positions in which. their hottoms are quite close to the bottom plates 50.

In another form of the invention (Figs. 13 and 14) the article holders 41 are formed without bumper plates substantially in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the bumper plate which limits movement of articles lengthwise. of the holders is secured to the cam table 27 the latter formed. with an upstanding boss 103 to the upper face of which the bumper plate 104' is pivoted. This bumper plate 104 comprises a horizontal portion pivoted to a vertical hinge pin 105 and formed with an upstanding arcuate portion 106 normally disposed adjacent the inner ends of the pockets or holders 41. This upstanding portion 106 is of sufficient length to cooperate with a pair of holders 41 simultaneously, whereby ware produced upon double mold forming machines may be handled. Obviously, this upstanding portion 106 may vary in length to meet different operating conditions such as variations in the size of the holders 41. In order that the bumper plate may be properly positioned relative to the article holders 41 and chutes 107 the horizontal portion is formed with an arcuate vertical slot 108 thru which a set screw 109 or the like fastener extends. This 1 plate may be adjusted in a horizontal plane about its pivot and secured in any of its ad- ,justed positions by tightening the set screw The chutes 107, according to the present disclosure, are arranged in pairs and include swinging sections 110 pivoted by vertical hinge pins 111 to the main and relatively stationary portions of the chutes. These adjustable sections 110 may be moved toward or from each other as determined by the circumferential spacing of the article holders 41 and are adapted to be secured in such adjusted relation by means of set screws 112 extending thru slots 113 in the outer ends of links 114 whose inner ends are pivoted thru vertical hinge pins 115 to said swinging sections 110. A transverse supporting beam 116 (Figs. 13 and 14) is positioned below the swinging sections 110 of the chutes and connected thru said set screws 112 to the links 114.

In Figs. 15, 16 and 17 there is shown means operating in conjunction with the rotary setting-up device to properly shape the bottoms of articles such as bottles which have been placed upon the arcuate table 85 by the article holders 41. Thebottoms of glass containers such as bottles are intended to be slightly con cave in order that during sealing of the container pressure will be applied entirely to the margin of the bottoms directly in line with the side walls instead of to those areas of the bottoms inwardly from the margin. Otherwise the bottoms of' the containers would in all probability be broken during the sealing operation. Because of the plastic condition of the glass for a period of time following discharge of the containers from the forming machine, there is a strong tendency for the bottoms to sag and flatten out. The bottom forming apparatus to be now described is in terposed between the rotary setting-up de-. vice and the conveyor 21 so that delivery of articles to said conveyor is delayed a sufficient length of time to allow cooling and setting of the bottoms in the shape originally intended, said bottoms being supported by bottom forming plates during their travel from the setting-up device to the conveyor 21 The structure includes a circular table 120 rotatable in a horizontal plane in timed rela tion to movement of the setting-up device. This table 120 is disposed in the same horizontal plane as the transfer table 85 and preferably is driven by the motor 1 thru a driving connection (not shown) so that the relation between the speeds of the conveyor, setting-up device and bottom forming table is constant.

The table 120 is provided with an annular series of vertical openings 121 near its margin. A bottom forming plate 122 is associated with each opening 121, and, as shown in Figs. 16 and'17, is adapted for vertical movement which alternately positions the plate within the corresponding opening and then in a plane below said opening.

Each bottom forming plate 122 has its upper face shaped to correspond with the intended shape of lower side of the bottoms of bottles or like articles to be supported on said plate. The plate 122 is provided with a depending guide rod 123 (Figs. 16 and 17) extending thru a guide 124 which is supported by arms 125 on the lower side of the forming table 120. A lock nut 126 is threaded upon the guide rod 123 above the guide 124 and secures the ring portion of the bottom forming plate in different positions relative to the central crown portion 122 the latter being secured to the upper end of said rod 123. The ring portion of the bottom forming plate is threaded upon the guide rod 123 and may be rotated relative to the rod to thereby adjust its height relative to the crown 122 and consequently the extent to which the crown portion 122 projects upwardly above the ring portion and into the bottle. Thus, the extent of concavity of the bottoms of the article may be predetermined.

An arcuate cam 129 is positioned below the marginal portion of the forming table 122 at an elevation to engage'the lower ends of the depending guide rods 123 carried by the bottom forming plates 122, just before the latter reach the discharge station 128. The cam 129- is soshaped that it raises the bottom forming plates into horizontal alignment with the upper face of the forming table 120 permitting articles carried by the forming ill plates to be pushed laterally from the plates and table to a conveyor 21 or other support. This cam 129 extends a short distance beyond the article receiving stat-ion 127 so that at the time articles are placed upon the plates the latter have their upper faces flush with the upper surface of the forming table. Thus, articles may be placed upon said plates mere ly by sliding them along a horizontal plane to their positions upon said bottom forming plates. After a bottom forming plate 122 moves beyond the influence of the cam 129 it drops to the position shown in 16 so that the supported article will be centered on said forming plate and cannot be moved laterally therefrom.

According to the present disclosure there is provided a continuously rotating star wheel 130 at the article receiving station 127 operating in timed relation with movement of the setting-up device and forming table to position articles such as bottles upon the bottom forming plates at regular time intervals. This star wheel is driven by the motor M thru connections (not shown). Guide rails 131 are provided to insure transfer of articles such as bottles B from the article holders 4:1 to the pockets of the star wheel 130 and thence to positions upon the bottom forming plates 122. A star wheel 132 is provided at the discharge station 128 to remove articles from the forming table to positions upon the ware conveyor 21 A guide rail 133 co operates with the star wheel 132 in the removal of articles from the forming table 120 and delivery of such articles to the conveyor 21. Means (not shown) to continuously rotate the star wheel 132 at the discharge station 128 in timed relation to movement of the star wheel 130 and forming table 120 is provided. By providing a bottom forming apparatus of the above character breakage of bottles and jars due to sagging or otherwise deformed bottoms is considerably reduced.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a table rotatable about a vertical axis, an annular series of arms extending radially outward from said table, trough-like article holders hinged to the arms for vertical swinging movement radially of the table, said holders normally positioned with their open sides facing upward- 1y, means to deliver articles to the holders while the latter are in said position, an arcuate table arranged in a horizontal plane adj acent a portion of the path traveled by said holders, means to swing said holders about their axes to position articles upright upon said arcuate table, and means separate from the holders for moving the articles in the direction of the length of said arcuate table.

2. The combination of a table rotatable about a vertical axis, an annular series of arms extending radially outward from said table, trough-like article holders hinged to the arms for vertical swinging movement radially of the table, said holders normally positioned with their open sides facing upwardly, means to deliver articles to the holders while the latter are in said position, an arcuate table arranged in a horizontal plane adjacent a portion of the path traveled by said holders, means to swing said holders about their axes to position articles upright upon said arcuate table, and extensions on said arms to move articles in the direction of the length of said arcuate table.

The combination of a table rotatable about a vertical axis, an annular series of arms extending radially outward from said table, troughdike article holders hinged to the arms for vertical swinging movement radially of the table, said holders normally positioned with their open sides facing upwardly, means to deliver articles to the holders while the latter are in said position, an arcuate table arranged in a horizontal plane adjacent a portion of the path traveled by said holders, means to swing said holders about their axes to position articles upright upon said arcuate table, extensions on said arms to move articles in the direction of the length of said arcuate table, and yielding means operating to return the holders to positions with their open sides facing upwardly.

4. The combination of a table rotatable about a vertical axis, an annular series of arms extending radially outward from said table, trough-like article holders hinged to the arms for vertical swinging movement radially of the table, said holders normally positioned with their open sides facing upwardly, means to deliver articles to the holders while the latter are in said position, an arcuate table arranged in a horizontal plane adjacent a portion of the path traveled by said holders, means to swing said holders about their axes to position articles upright upon said arcuate table, a conveyor at one end of said arcuate table, and extensions on said arms operable to move articles in the direction of the length of said arcuate table to positions upon the conveyor.

5. The combination of a table rotatable about a vertical axis, an annular series of arms extending radially outward from said table, trough-like article holders hinged to the arms for vertical swinging movement ra dially relative to the table, cam means operable to swing the holders from horizontal to vertical positions to set the articles upright, an arcuate table extending beneath the holders at their vertical position, means to deliver articles to the holders at one end of said arcuate table, a conveyor at the other end of said arcuate table, and mechanisms operating to transfer articles in said upright positions from the holders to the arcuate table and then lengthwise of the latter table to positions upon the conveyor.

6. In combination an annular series of article holders continuously rotatable about a vertical axis, means supporting the holders for vertical swinging movement radially relative to the axis of rotation, an arcuate table extending beneath certain of said holders, means to place articles in cumbent positions in said holders in advance of arrival of the latter at one end of said table, means to swing said holders to vertically position articles carried thereby over the table, and means to move the vertically positioned articles radially outward from said pockets to upright positions on the table.

7 In combination an annular series of article holders continuously rotatable about a vertical axis, means supporting the holders for vertical swinging movement radially relative to the axis of rotation, an arcuate table extending beneath certain of said holders, means to place articles in cumbent positions in said holders in advance of arrival at one end of said table, means to swing said holders to vertically position articles carried thereby over the table, means to move the vertically positioned articles radially outward from said pockets to upright positions on the table, a conveyor at the other end of said arcuate table, and means individual to said holders to move articles in the direction of the length of said arcuate table to positions upon the conveyor.

8. In combination an annular series of article holders continuously rotatable about a vertical axis, means supporting the holders for vertical swinging movement radially relative to the axis of rotation, an arcuate table extending beneath part of the path of rotation of the holders, means to place articles in cumbent positions in said holders in advance of arrival at one end of said table, means to swing said holders to vertically position articles carried thereby over the table, means to move the vertically positioned articles radially outward from said pockets to upright positions on the table, and yielding means to swing the holders to horizontal positions after passing beyond said arcuate table.

9. In combination an annular series of article holders rotatable about a vertical axis, an arcuate article receiving table extending a predetermined distance about said series of holders, a feeder arranged over said holders near one end of the receiving table, means to deliver articles to the feeder at regular time intervals, means controlled by rotation of said series of holders to operate the feeder and cause deposit of articles in said holders periodically, cam means to swing the article holders to vertical positions adjacent said arcuate table to thereby set the articles upright, and means to move articles from the holders to said table.

10. The combination of a carriage rotata= ble about a vertical axis, an annular series of holders carried by said carriage in an annular path, a temporary support positioned and arranged to hold articles in a cumbent position above said path, means for delivering the articles serially to said support, means for periodically actuating said support in timed relation to the positioning of said holders therebeneath and thereby dropping the articles from said temporary support and in a cumbent position to said holders, means to swing the holders from a horizontally disposed position to an upright position and thereby bring the articles to an upright position, means for receiving the articles from the holders in an upright position, and means separate from the article holders for removing articles, while upright, from the holders.

11. In combination an annular series of article holders rotatable about a vertical axis, an arcuate article receiving table extending a predetermined distance about said series of holders, a feeder arranged over said holders near one end of the receiving table, means to deliver articles to the feeder at regular time intervals, means controlled by rotation of said series of holders to operate the feeder and cause deposit of articles in said holders periodically, means to so move the holders that articles carried thereby are deposited upright on the arcuate table, and means separate from the holders for moving the articles in the direction of the length of the arcuate table.

Signed at Toledo, Ohio, this 19th day of October, 1928.

ALBERT N. CRAMER. 

